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R.L Hayden to replace DePuniet at Laguna

L8Braker

L8Braker

Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 34+
Tar Heel State
From cyclenews.com



Just when Roger Lee Hayden's season started to get a bit better with the deal to ride an American Honda-backed entry in the Moto2 class of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, the pot has been sweetened even more with word from a well-placed source that Hayden has been selected to fill in for Randy de Puniet on the LCR Honda MotoGP team in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.



De Puniet suffered a broken lower leg when he crashed out of today's German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.



Our source in Germany said that Hayden has been given the go-ahead by both his World Superbike team, Pedercini Kawasaki, and by American Honda.



Roger Lee Hayden finished 10th in the U.S. Grand Prix in 2007 as a wild card on a factory Kawasaki.
 
It's marketing, American based GP, American rider, simple enough. The talent matters way less in this equation.
 
Talpa said:
Thats right up there vying for the 'worst replacement of the year' with Fiat Yamaha
Click to expand...



Hayden finished 10th in 2007 on a Kawasaki with very little time in the saddle. The only reason Hayden's career has gone into the tank is b/c Robertino Pietri (now in Moto2) nearly killed the kid in a practice accident in 2008. Hayden missed the 2008 season and the 2008 Laguna wild card ride (Hacking got it instead). By missing the 2008 season, he had no 2009 prospects except with Kawasaki who pulled the plug on their AMA SBK program which sent Roger into a rage. The rest is history. He rides for Pedercini b/c Paolo did a deal to get him into WSBK.



Another career wrecked by injury and Kawasaki. Luckily, Hayden is young enough to make something of himself. Moving into the Honda stable might prove to be beneficial or maybe American Kawasaki will bring him back to race the new ZX-10R next year. Who knows? He's been wasting away for 3 years now after finally hitting his stride in 2007.
 
Talpa said:
Thats right up there vying for the 'worst replacement of the year' with Fiat Yamaha
Click to expand...

As usual , ur takes r ......... Finishing on a 'Kawasaki' in top ten at anytime is a feat. factor in that he'd not ridden machine before. Rossi's replacement tested bike yet barely qualled. Wake me when u stubble on something insightful to say.
 
i agree with talpa. who wants to see a replacement rider come in who might actually be somewhat competitive? i demand more anonymous japanese test riders tootling around miles off the pace!
 
Go for it Roger Lee,whatever happens,just go for it!
<
 
It appears to now be official!



http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85381



Roger Lee Hayden will return to MotoGP when he replaces Randy de Puniet in next weekend's US GP at Laguna Seca, AUTOSPORT has learned.



Hayden, the 27-year-old brother of former MotoGP world champion and Ducati rider Nicky, has competed sporadically in the World Superbike Championship for Team Pedercini Kawasaki this year.



Hayden is also expected to race an American Honda-backed Moto2 bike in the Indianapolis GP after the summer break.



The American had made his MotoGP debut also at Laguna Seca in 2007, when he raced a Kawasaki to finish in 10th position.



De Puniet sustained breaks to his right tibia and fibula in an accident which caused the German Grand Prix to be stopped on Sunday.



It remains unclear how long the Frenchman will be out of action for, but the severity of his injury suggest he is unlikely to back in time to race before the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano at the beginning of September.



American rider Hayden possesses strong local knowledge of Laguna Seca and won a race there during his AMA Supersport championship year in 2007.



The circuit is also synonymous with his brother Nicky, who scored an emotional first grand prix victory there in 2005 and followed it up with another in 2006.
Click to expand...
 
#22 said:
It appears to now be official!



http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/85381
Click to expand...



IM hoping Roger does good. Im pretty sure he wont do as good as Rdp but he will probably finish in front of Bautista and Kalio and Espargo. This Replacement makes sense (at least for Laguna) being that Roger has tons of experience on the track. Looks like Roger lee is finally catching a break.
 
Mastodon said:
i agree with talpa. who wants to see a replacement rider come in who might actually be somewhat competitive? i demand more anonymous japanese test riders tootling around miles off the pace!
Click to expand...

I stand corrected.
 
Mastodon said:
i agree with talpa. who wants to see a replacement rider come in who might actually be somewhat competitive? i demand more anonymous japanese test riders tootling around miles off the pace!
Click to expand...

So .........., do you truly believe Tommy will be competitive all things considered ?
<
 
Roger Lee needs to cultivate the Ron Jeremy ....star tash again before he can even consider slinging a leg over the RDP Playboy ride.
 
chopperman said:
So .........., do you truly believe Tommy will be competitive all things considered ?
<
Click to expand...



what things are you considering? because i am considering the fact he finished 10th here on a piece of .... Kawasaki and will now be on the best costumer bike on the grid.
 
Mastodon said:
what things are you considering? because i am considering the fact he finished 10th here on a piece of .... Kawasaki and will now be on the best costumer bike on the grid.
Click to expand...

Jesus h christ, do you really need to be told this ? Try new bike new team, carbon brakes, little time to get used to these and set up bike ect ect . He is a tallent and i hope he rocks but im not holding much hope because im realistic,
 
Mastodon said:
what things are you considering? because i am considering the fact he finished 10th here on a piece of .... Kawasaki and will now be on the best costumer bike on the grid.
Click to expand...



No, that has nothing to do with it. His mind will obviously be distracted with missing valuable focus time from the championship he's contending in WSBK.
 
chopperman said:
Jesus h christ, do you really need to be told this ? Try new bike new team, carbon brakes, little time to get used to these and set up bike ect ect . He is a tallent and i hope he rocks but im not holding much hope because im realistic,
Click to expand...

Yeah cuz he had been riding the Kawasaki GP bike all year when he wildcarded....
<




What the deal with you Brits being afraid of new tires, new bike, new team... Maybe Roger Lee should call up Cal Crutchlow and ask him to talk him out of this great opportunity.
<
 
Jumkie said:
Yeah cuz he had been riding the Kawasaki GP bike all year when he wildcarded....
<




What the deal with you Brits being afraid of new tires, new bike, new team... Maybe Roger Lee should call up Cal Crutchlow and ask him to talk him out of this great opportunity.
<
Click to expand...

Umm, i must confess i was a little disappointed with Cal turning down the offer but it's not my body and i would think Rossi's Yam and Randys Honda are 2 very different animal's
<
But props to Tommy for having the ball's to try even if it could put his own championship in jeopardy
<
 
R.L. is not terrible by any means, but selecting him just shows the dearth of talent America has at the moment. Seriously, after Spies has now moved up, is there anyone else even in the pipelines? The spout maybe dry for awhile.
 

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